Pocket flashlight

ABSTRACT

A pocket flashlight including a tubular body comprising an outer cylindrical barrel configured to house a voltage source in operative engagement with a light source, a conductive sleeve means operatively coupled to the light source and switch means in operative engagement with the voltage source, the switch means including a movable switch member having a first and second position and switch bias means attached to the switch member, the switch bias means engaging the tubular body to bias the switch means in the first position, the switch means arranged relative to the conductive sleeve means such that when in the first position the switch member is separated from the conductive sleeve means to form an open circuit and when the switch means is in the second position the switch member engages the conductive sleeve means to close the circuit and activate the light source.

United States Patent 1 Naylor et al.

[ Aug. 26, 1975 POCKET FLASHLIGHT [76] Inventors: Richard N. Naylor,1007 Pine Brook Dr.; David E. Staub, 461 Palm Island, both ofClearwater, Fla. 33515; Terry F. Tanner, 323 Snell lsle Blvd., St.Petersburg, Fla. 33704 [22] Filed: May 7, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 467,784

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.347,639, April 4,

l973, abandoned.

' I22 us Primary Examiner-Richard A. Wintercorn AssistantE.taminer--Russell E. Adams, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stein & Orman5 7 ABSTRACT A pocket flashlight including a tubular body comprising anouter cylindrical barrel configured to house a voltage source inoperative engagement with a light source, a conductive sleeve meansoperatively coupled to the light source and switch means in operativeengagement with the voltage source, the switch means including a movableswitch member having a first and second position and switch bias meansattached to the switch member, the switch bias means engaging thetubular body to bias the switch means in the first position, the switchmeans arranged relative to the conductive sleeve means such that when inthe first position the switch member is separated from the conductivesleeve means to form an open circuit and when the switch means is in thesecond position the switch member engages the conductive sleeve means toclose the circuit and activate the light source.

.5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures POCKET FLASHLIGHT This is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 347,639 filed Apr. 4, 1973,now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention A pocketflashlight comprising an outer cylindrical barrel housing a voltagesource in operative engagement with a light source and a switch meanshaving a bias means formed thereon to hold the switch means in thenormally open position.

2. Description of the Prior Art I A number of disposable pocketflashlights have been developed for use in the medical profession andsimilar endeavors. Generally, these pocket flashlights comprise acurrent or voltage source in combination with a light bulb and switchmeans to actuate/deactuate the flashlight to provide an inexpensivelight source which may be easily carried on the person.

Commonly, the switch means comprises a plunger type switch similar tothose used in mechanical pencils and ball point pens. In thisconfiguration, the switch means is axially aligned with the power sourceand light bulb to move the power source into and out of operativeengagement with the light source itself. As is readily apparent oninspection, this type of switch means requires several working partswith attendant manufacturing and assembly costs. In addition, theplunger type switch means is subject to wear and malfunction renderingthe device inoperable.

A second type of switching means comprises a cliplike member attached toor between the voltage/current source and a conductive memberoperatively coupled to the bulb. The clip-like member has a first andsecond position such that the member may be moved into and out of closedand open circuit configuration. Unfortunately, these clip-like membersare easily moved to the closed position causing inadvertent current orvoltage drain from the energy source. As a result, the life of theflashlight is significantly reduced. This is particularly importantwhere the flashlight is designed for disposal after use in that theentire cost of the flashlight is absorbed over this shortened life.

Thus, there is a need for a relatively simple, efficient deviceincluding a switching means that is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture and avoids inadvertent current/voltage drain when not inuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a disposable pocketflashlight of the type which may be easily carried in the pocket of ashirt or thelike. More specifically, the flashlight includes a tubularbody configured to house a voltage source in operative engagement with alight source and a switch means operatively attached to the tubular bodyto selectively actuate the flashlight.

The tubular body comprising an outer cylindrical barrel includingretaining means formed at each end thereof to retain the voltage andlight sources therein. The voltage source and light source are held inoperative engagement within the cylindrical barrel by means of a biasingspring acting against the inner surface of one of the retaining meansand the light source. Disposed within the cylindrical barrel is aconductive sleeve means extending substantially the length thereof. Theconductive sleeve is o'peratively connected to the light source whileinsulated from the voltage source.

The switch means comprises a switch member connected to the voltagesource by a switch attachment means formed on one end thereof. Theswitch bias means disposed between the switch member and the outercylindrical barrel is attached to the inner surface of the switch membersuch that the switch member is biased in a first or normally openposition. An aperture is formed in the sidewall of the cylindricalcasing such that when the switch means is moved from the first positionto a second position by depressing the switch member the switch membercontacts the conductive sleeve means completing the electric circuit asmore fully described hereinafter.

When not in use, the disposable pocket flashlight is generally clippedto the shirt pocket such that the switch bias means holds the switchmember out of operative contact with the conductive sleeve means. Tooperate, the operator removes the flashlight from the pocket and merelydepresses the switch member to the second position completing thecircuit between the light source and the voltage source such thatcurrent flows from the voltage source to the light source and returnsthrough the conductive sleeve means, switch member means and switchattachment means back to the voltage source.

By this unique combination of elements, a highly reliable, relativelyinexpensive pocket flashlight is provided.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of thenature and objects of the inyention, reference should be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a flashlight construction suchas a pocket or pencil light.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial section of the same.

FIG. 3 is a broken longitudinal section through the composite tube, perse.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken at line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a disposable pocket flashlight.

FIG. 7 shows an end view of the disposable pocket flashlight taken fromthe bulb end.

FIG. 8 shows an end view of the disposable pocket flashlight taken fromthe top end.

FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional side view of the disposable pocketflashlight taken along line 99 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional side view of an alternate embodiment ofthe disposable pocket flashlight.

FIG. 11 is a detailed side view of a switch means of the presentinvention in the form of a conductor clip.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to a flashlightstructure primarily of the type used as a disposable flashlight andreferred to as a pocket-type or pencil-type flashlight.

The structure of one embodiment of the present invention specificallyset forth in the'drawings comprises a composite conductor tube ofimproved construction which, according to theform illustrated, comprisesan inner tube or cylinder of dielectric material and an outer tube orcylinder of electric conducting material such as a metallic foil or thelike.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through of the drawings, the composite conductortube comprises an outer cylinder or conductive sleeve of conductivematerial 1 and an inner cylinder or insulating sleeve of dielectricmaterial 2 closely associated or actually adhered together throughoutthe length of the conductive sleeve. This structures forms together areceptacle for the power source means which may be in the form of one ormore battery cells 3 in series relation. The forward portion of I tiveannulus in which the shank portion 16 of bulb 5 is located so asto bepositioned both in electrical engagement with the annulus and with thecontact 18 of battery 3.

The flashlight casing 6 comprises a cylindrical configuration formed atits rear end 7 to provide an annular inturned flange 8 for supportingthe disc 9 against which one end of the compression spring 10 is seated.The opposite end of the spring exerts a force of compression against thebase or negative terminal of the rear battery cell 3, as shown. Theopposite or forward end of the casing is rolled inwardly to provide anannular flange 1 1 against which a washer or apertured member l 2 isengaged when the flashlight is fully assembled.

. The flashlight bulb is retained and placed in the restricted chamberby shoulder 13 in engagement with the member 12 and a washer 14 behindthe shoulder which annularly overlies the inturned end wall 15 of thecomposite tube. The shank 16 of the bulb is formed of conductivematerial and is in electrical contact with the turned in end portion orannulus as indicated above.

The outer casing 6 is provided with longitudinally aligned apertures 19and 20 designed to engage and accommodate a conductive clip having aflange portion 21 configured into a substantially annular surface forthe purpose of embracing at least a portion of the outer conductivesurface of the power source or battery 3.- A resilient contact arm 22which projects through the opening 19 and forwardly along the outside ofthe. easing 6 is positioned to be aligned over aperture 20 and also isspecifically configured to be arranged in spaced relation to the casing6 and/or conductive sleeve 1.

It will, of course, be noted that the conductor sleeve 1 underlies theopening 20 at its rear end portions and when the arm 22 is depressedtowards the sleeve 1 immediately opposite the opening 20 and broughtinto contact with the conductive sleeve as shown in FIG. 2, anelectrical circuit is completed through the batteries to thus activatethe bulb 5.

Since the flashlight construction illustrated is extremely inexpensiveto produce and is permanently self-contained, it is feasibly disposableafter use.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is best shown in FIGS.6 through 11 and the disposable pocket flashlight is generally indicatedas 1 10 and comprises a tubular body 1 l2 and a switch means 1 14. Thetubular body 112 comprises an outer cylindrical casing 1 16 configuredto hold a voltage source and a light source in operative engagement witheach other. As depicted, the voltage source comprises one or more drycell batteries 118 disposed in series with the light source comprising alight bulb 120. The batteries are aligned in end to end contact suchthat the central terminal post 122 of one battery 118 engages the base25 of the next adjacent battery 118. The terminal post 123 of thebattery 118, located adjacent the light source, engages terminal 27 oflight bulb 120. I

The cylindrical barrel 116 of tubular body 112 includes a retainingmeans comprising a pair of retaining members 28 and 30 integrally formedon opposite ends thereof respectively. As shown in FIG. 9, the base 25of the lower battery 118 directly engages electrically conductivethimble 44 while light source is biased against the terminal post 122 ofthe adjacently positioned battery 118 by biasing means 32, which may bein the form of a spring or the like acting against member 33 abuttingretaining member 28 and the expanded portion 27 of bulb 120 or base 26of light bulb 120. Alternately, a sponge, spring, or like elastic member35 may be placed at the rear portion of the casing 1 l6 and indirectengagement with base 25. In this alternate embodiment (FIG. 10) spring32 as shown, is of course deleted.

A substantially tubular conductive sleeve means 34 is disposed withinthe cylindrical casing 116 in substantially surrounding concentricrelationship to thebatteries 118. Conductive means 34 is insulated fromelectrical contact with the outer surface of batteries 118 by means of asubstantially tubular sleeve 36 made of dielectric material andextending substantially along the length of conductive sleeve 34 for apredetermined distance and on the interior thereof.

The forward portion 38 of the conductive sleeve 34 disposed adjacentlight bulb 120 comprises a substantially U-shaped configuration whichengages the base 26, as more fully described hereinafter, and defines achamber 104 in which base 26 of bulb 120 is located.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the switch means generally indicated as 114comprises a switch member in the form of conductor clip 42 mounted oncasing 116. A plurality of apertures including apertures 40 and 45 areformed in casing 116 immediately adjacent contact means in theform ofcontact elements 48 and 51 correspondingly positioned relative toapertures 40 and 45 respectively.

A switch engagement means comprises a cylindrical thimble member 44substantially surrounding the end of battery 118 adjacent retaining lip30 (FIG. 9) or member 35 (FIG. 10). Thimble 44 is made of electricallyconductive materials and is disposed in electrical contact with battery118 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Thimble 44 engages battery 118,positioned adjacent retaining lip 30, either in substantially flushrelation thereto or altemately by means of detents 53, as shown in FIG.10. Thimble 44 further includes base portion 49 positioned contiguous tolip 30 and disposed to at least partially extend out of the aperture 37at the end of casing 116 and defined by lip 30.

More particularly, as best shown in FIGS. 9, l0. and

11, switch means 114 further includes a switch bias means 46 attached toor otherwise connected to the inner surface 1 13 of the switch means 114. In addition, contact element 51 is integrally or otherwise attachedTo operate, the flashlight 110 is removed from the pocket and the clip42 is depressed inwardly relative to to switch bias means 46 and isdisposed thereon to exby directional arrow 57 (FIG.-9). This deliberatedepression of clip 42 causes contact element 48 to pass into or throughaperture 40 and into engagement and electrical contact with theconductor tube 34 located immediately therebeneath. For general purposesof explanation, an obvious advantage of the structure of switch means114 and more particularly contact element 51 and 48 is the provision ofan always clean metal to metal contact between the outer surface of thethimble 44 and the contact element 51. The movable engagement betweencontact element 51 and this outer surface of thimble 44 scratches,scraps or dislodges any corrosion or undesirable build up which wouldprohibit or deter a clean electrical contact or engagement betweenthimble 44 and contact element 51. For purposes of definition andclarity, contact element 51 and contact element 48 may be referred to asa first contact element and a second contact element respectively.

Clip mounting means in the form of integrally attached protrusion orbarbs 61 are positioned to be attached to the outer tubular casing 116as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. These mounting elements may or may not bedisposed into engagement and/or electrical contact with thimble 44 asdesired to accomplish maximum efficiency in both fabrication andoperation of the present invention.

In the normally biased position shown in FIG. 10, conductor clip 42 andparticularly second contact element 48 extends over aperture 40 suchthat contact element 48 is in open communication with the conductivesleeve means 34. More specifically, switch bias means 46 comprises aspring element connected to clip 114 so as to engage the outer surfaceof casing 116 immediately adjacent clip 114. This bias means isspecifically dimensioned and configured and disposed to maintain secondcontact element 48 in normally biased position out of contact withconductive sleeve 34. As shown in FIG. 9, the switch means 114 is in thenormally open position when not in use such that there is no return pathfor current thereby rendering the flashlight 110 inoperable. However, aspointed out above, when the conductive clip 42 is depressed inwardlyrelative to the casing 116, as shown by directional arrow 57, firstcontact element 51 operativelyengages the conductive sleeve means 34 toprovide a return current path to complete the circuit and actuate thelight bulb 120.

When not in use, the disposable pocket flashlight 1 10 is normallycarried in the shirt pocket or the like. The switch bias means 46 andouter surface of casing 112 engage the pocket therebetween to secure theflashlight 110 to the pocket. In this position, it should be noted thatthe conductor clip is held in the first or open position out of contactwith the conductive sleeve means 34 to prevent illumination of the lightbulb 120.

casing 116 to the second or closed position (FIG. 9) v causing thesecondcontact element 48 to pass through aperture 40 and engage the conductivesleeve means 34- such that current will flow from the batteries. 118

into the terminal 27 and base 26- through the filament to the conductivesleeve means 34 through switch means 114 and to the base 24 of the lowerbattery 1 18 to illuminatethe bulb 120. Since the second contact 48 isbiased inthe open position and switch bias means 46 andcas'irig"1 l6'-coop'erati'velysecure the flashlight 1 10' in place when not in use,inadvertent current drain is avoided.

It should be further noted that the entire tubular casing 116 comprisesa single integral housing or enclosure with retainer members 28 and 30such that no additional elements are necessary. Thus, a very inexpensiveand highly reliable disposable flashlight is provided.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, andsince certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method andarticle without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention, which,as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed is:

l. A flashlight structure comprising: an outer casing, power sourcemeans mounted on the interior of said outer casing, a light bulbdisposed at least partially in said housing in electrical contact withsaid power source, switch means mounted on said casing and including aclip element, said switch means further including conductive switch biasmeans connected to said clip element and disposed between said clipelement and said outer casing and in engagement with said outer casingso as to bias said clip element outwardly from and in spaced relation tosaid outer casing, primary conductor means engaging said light bulb anddisposed in communicating relation with said switch means; switchengagment means interconnected between said power source means and saidswitch means; said switch means further comprising a first contactelement formed on said switch bias means and disposed in slidableengagement with said switch engagement means, said switch meanscomprises a second contact element electrically connected to said switchbias means, said second contact element being formed on said clip anddisposed in movable, spaced relation from said primary conductor means,whereby the disposition of said switch bias means to said outer casingand siad clip element serves to dispose said second contact elementoutwardly relative to said outer casing.

2. A flashlight structure as in claim 1 wherein said switch engagingmeans comprises a thimble member having a continuous cylindrical,substantially tubular configuration, said thimble disposed in at leastpartially surrounding relation to said power source and spaced relativeto said primary conductor.

3. A flashlight structure as in claim 1 further comprising at least oneaperture formed in said outer casing in 'intercommunicating relationbetween said second engaging the interior surface thereof, a socketmeans comprising both said conductive and insulating sleeve disposed infolded back relation relative to the remainder of said conductive andinsulating sleeves, said fold back portion of said insulating sleevesdisposed between a conductive annulus defined by the fold back portionof the conductive sleeve and the remainder of the conductive sleeve.

5. A flashlight structure as in claim 1 wherein said primary conductormeans comprises a substantially continuous, cylindrical sleeve formedfrom a substantially flexible metal foil material.

1. A flashlight structure comprising: an outer casing, power sourcemeans mounted on the interior of said outer casinG, a light bulbdisposed at least partially in said housing in electrical contact withsaid power source, switch means mounted on said casing and including aclip element, said switch means further including conductive switch biasmeans connected to said clip element and disposed between said clipelement and said outer casing and in engagement with said outer casingso as to bias said clip element outwardly from and in spaced relation tosaid outer casing, primary conductor means engaging said light bulb anddisposed in communicating relation with said switch means; switchengagment means interconnected between said power source means and saidswitch means; said switch means further comprising a first contactelement formed on said switch bias means and disposed in slidableengagement with said switch engagement means, said switch meanscomprises a second contact element electrically connected to said switchbias means, said second contact element being formed on said clip anddisposed in movable, spaced relation from said primary conductor means,whereby the disposition of said switch bias means to said outer casingand siad clip element serves to dispose said second contact elementoutwardly relative to said outer casing.
 2. A flashlight structure as inclaim 1 wherein said switch engaging means comprises a thimble memberhaving a continuous cylindrical, substantially tubular configuration,said thimble disposed in at least partially surrounding relation to saidpower source and spaced relative to said primary conductor.
 3. Aflashlight structure as in claim 1 further comprising at least oneaperture formed in said outer casing in intercommunicating relationbetween said second swtich element and said primary conductor, wherebymovement of said clip against the biasing force of said switch biasmeans causes sliding engagement between said thimble and positions saidsecond switch element into electrical contact with said primaryconductor means through said one aperture.
 4. A flashlight structure asin claim 1 wherein said primary conductor means comprises a sleevemember mounted on the interior of said casing and formed from anelectrically conductive material; an insulating sleeve disposed on theinterior of said conductive sleeve and engaging the interior surfacethereof, a socket means comprising both said conductive and insulatingsleeve disposed in folded back relation relative to the remainder ofsaid conductive and insulating sleeves, said fold back portion of saidinsulating sleeves disposed between a conductive annulus defined by thefold back portion of the conductive sleeve and the remainder of theconductive sleeve.
 5. A flashlight structure as in claim 1 wherein saidprimary conductor means comprises a substantially continuous,cylindrical sleeve formed from a substantially flexible metal foilmaterial.